On this page:

For a list of topics and notes from sessions, click here.

The Basics of Open Space Technology:

"Open Space Technology is a self-organizing practice that enables groups of any size to address complex, important issues and accomplish meaningful work. It releases the inherent creativity and leadership in people by inviting them to take responsibility for what they care about. Open Space establishes a marketplace of inquiry, where people offer topics of interest, reflect, learn and work together." --Peggy Holman

The Four Principles:

The Law of Two Feet:

The Question:

What are the essential pieces that nurture the heart of our work, and support shared leadership, mutual learning and contribution for all members and Leaders?

The Summary:

Open Space Technology occupied Thursday. Using this technology, a facilitator (ours was Christine Whitney-Sanchez) poses a convening question to the group (can be any size group), which is sitting in a circle (familiar to LLL already!). USWD staff gave the convening question to Christine: “What are the essential pieces that nurture the heart of our work and support shared leadership, mutual learning, and contributions for all Leaders and members in the USWD?” Then we each thought about the question and came up with ideas, questions or concerns tied to the question. When a participant had a particular question she wanted to discuss in a small group, she wrote her topic on a paper for a specific time and room, and posted that on the “sticky wall” (a huge nylon sheet sprayed with "Post-It" adhesive and hung on the wall).

The leader who posted the thought/question became the host for that breakout session and all decided which breakouts to attend. Members of each breakout made sure that someone captured the important points of the discussion, wrote three of the points on half sheets of colored paper, and filled out a report form capturing the things discussed as well as meaningful quotes that came out of the dialogue.

Later, the large group reconvened, and a reporter for each group gave a one minute (timed!) summary of their discussion (three major points), and put those on the sticky wall. At the end, participants added their names to the major points that described things they wanted to champion or promote during the rest of TEAM. You can read about OST on Christine’s Website: http://www.triunemilagro.com/open_space_technology

Sunday morning each participant was given a full set of the report sheets from ALL OF Thursday’s breakouts. (See it here.) We tried to capture the major points posted on the colored sheets. Attendees were invited to put a sticky note with their name with the major points they were interested in promoting during the meeting.

More information about Open Space:

"In almost less time then it took me to write these paragraphs, we had set up the whole day’s activities!”--Report from Gail Gesely, ACE

List of topics with summaries and quotes. (Printable .pdf version--11 pages.)